Personally I get pretty tired of professional athletes and owners bickering over money. These people are making more money than they will ever need. Then there are the people that are their FANS that are barely getting by and scrimp to pay the cable bill in order to watch the games.
Have they forgotten a game is meant for fun? Obviously, because for a lot of them it has become about the money. Just how many gold chains can you own or how big of a diamond can you put on your ear? How many houses and cars do you need?
Take a look at the other side....how many families that are watching these athletes play would give anything for a home or a family car. How many husbands would love to surprise their wife with a fine piece of jewelry on their birthday?
I recently read and article in ESPN magazine about a professional athlete and his collection of Nike Air shoes. The collection was worth about $150,000. All I could think of was how many kids go without new shoes. Maybe this guy does donate shoes to kids, I don't know. But if you can have that many pairs of shoes in your closet, I think it would be a nice gesture to put shoes on someone else's feet.
I know there are a lot of athletes who do give back and I love to read about them. Many years back a NFL player from Northeastern California gave back to his high school in the form of an all weather track and lighting and basketball shoes for the basketball team. Mt. Shasta High School was fortunate to have Jason Sehorn give back and show he cares.
Detroit Lions, Ndamukong Suh, star at Nebraska gave back to his university. He, along with Jahvid Best, recently gave to a Detroit school when their football equipment was stolen. The two NFL players donated helmets, cleats and gloves in time for their upcoming game.
These things mean a lot. As I said, I know a lot of players are very generous and do this kind of thing. I would like to hear more about it, instead of how pro athletes are holding out for more money. Put your money where your mouth is.
I have always thought a great part of contracts for owners and athletes alike would be a requirement for some sort of philanthropic act each year...maybe building one modest house for a homeless family in your community. There are about 1700 players in the NFL and about 450 in the NBA...that is 2150 players....2150 families could move from homeless status each year...what a thought.
Maybe it's not building a house, but donating to a school, homeless shelter, program for training unemployed adults...the ideas are endless. Although there are already many that are very generous, I think they should all quit worrying about how much money they make and be required to put a percentage of it to good use....
Just a thought...
In this world it is not what we take up, but what we give up, that makes us rich. ~
Henry Ward Beecher
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